New York gun group to begin push against more weapons laws

Joe Bill takes aim while participating in a game of "Skeet" at the Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club.Frank Ordonez / The Post-Standard

Syracuse, N.Y. -- In coming days, the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association will recruit its tens of thousands of members to phone and email Albany lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to argue against more gun laws.

The phone banks and email blitzes are not new, says Tom King, president of the association. "We do this all the time," said King.

The group routinely calls on its members to contact their state representatives from both parties to argue for or against certain laws. The association, which is affiliated with the National Rifle Association, has 40,000 members. Its membership has more than doubled since 9/11, King said.

In recent months, the association lobbied hard against a proposal that would require gun manufacturers to apply a fingerprinting-like technology to try to track bullets fired from individual guns. Proponents of the micro-stamping requirement say it would help police track guns used in crimes; opponents say the technology is flawed and would not produce reliable data. The measure passed the Democrat-controlled New York State Assembly but died in the Republican-controlled New York State Senate.

King said today his members contact all lawmakers, regardless of party. "We are telling them to contact their own representatives," he said.

Cuomo said he plans to propose new gun legislation in his State of the State speech on Jan. 9. Talk of a special session in Albany to deal with gun laws before the new year appears to be fading.

The rifle and pistol group also makes political contributions, including to Central New York lawmakers. This year, the group gave the following: